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I noted most would probably say no on this thread but keep in mind this is related to IPS/Dual IPS Screens becoming "Uncommon" for the New 3DS XL, or 3DS XL due to production increasing more with IPS Screens (theorized of course.)

Main thread here:
So I been thinking about IPS Screens, and regular 3DS Screens, so far from what I know Nintendo sells Dual IPS/IPS (Top or bottom.) Nintendos, and also regular which are the standard screens for a 3ds. The only problem is they sell them in the 3ds them self (They don't produce Diffrent models of a 3ds/3ds XL, or new for IPS screens, they either come with them or not, or the bottom may have it, or the top may have it, or both.) The IPS Screens are typically not sold off of EBay as a "replacement", and if someone did it would probably go for a lot of money varying on the product avilablillity, same as the bottom,

My main question is due to us being in 2016, and 3DS's were produced around 2011, are 3ds IPS screens becoming uncommon since factories may be producing them in mass quantities now?

Just got a Black n3ds & Fire Emblem n3dsxl in Aus. the fire emblem xl has IPS top screen & tn bottom. Blk n3ds has IPS I believe. Does anyone know if you can buy top IPS screen to install in fire emblem model?

I forgot what my 2DS has, it's bricked so I can't check. (I think both screens were TN though.)
My n3DSXL however, has a top IPS and bottom TN screen. I bought it in January. From what I've seen, 1 IPS and 1 TN is pretty common, 2 IPS isn't though.

I forgot what my 2DS has, it's bricked so I can't check. (I think both screens were TN though.)
My n3DSXL however, has a top IPS and bottom TN screen. I bought it in January. From what I've seen, 1 IPS and 1 TN is pretty common, 2 IPS isn't though.

So;Old 3DS - Rare/uncommon (depending on when 3DS was made normally if they are a newly made one then it's likely that it will have an IPS Screen the reason this is rare is becuase ones normally produced in 2011 - 2012 normally would not have it.)

Old 3DS XL - Rare/Uncommon (Higher chance than Old 3DS for IPS Screen due to this being a newer model, and was made somewhere around 2012 - 2013 when IPS Screens were first in "plan" so you may notice there being more 3DS XL IPS Screens rather than Old 3DS.)

2DS - Impossible (Nintendo never rolled out IPS Screens for the Nintendo 2DS, however they MAY produce them once IPS Screens become more common, however chances are unlikely. There is no evidence to support this.)

New 3DS XL - Uncommon/Common (You have a mostly high chance of getting atleast ONE IPS Screen from this model, the likely hood of getting one depending on when it was made will most likely have an IPS Screen if they were produced around 2015 - 2016 (or higher.)

3DS Date Models:
2011 IPS - Almost Impossible/Impossible to find a 3DS produced in 2011 to have a IPS Screen, or Dual IPS

2012 IPS - Almost Impossible/Impossible

2013 IPS - There is a higher chance to find one but again IPS's were not as massively produced until later years, the chances of finding one are mostly rare, or impossible

2014 IPS - Higher chance to find one, IPS Screens may be easier to find compared to the last year due to Nintendo producing more in the year

2015 IPS - Higher chance of finding one. Nintendo produced more, however they were still sending out regular screens, and IPS Screens at the same time in the same 3DS's so it's extremely confusing to know whether or not you will get a IPS, Dual IPS, or Regular Screens. Some methods were found to finding some however they may be outdated to today's standards

2016 IPS - You will have a really decent, and high chance buying a new model from 2016 this is becuase Nintendo has (almost) completely stopped selling the top part of the 3DS as a TN/Regular Screen, and has replaced it with an IPS. However bottom IPS Screens are barley produced with the console, and may be present in future 2017 when the top IPS Screens are sold more.

How to get an IPS (For noobs):For users who just want pure advice I suggest reading this, and looking through other guides.

Buy a 3DS with an IPS Screen off of EBay - For users wanting to spend a few more $100 USD on a IPS 3DS for a 100% chance type of thing than this may be perfect for you. 3DS IPS's are sold in all 3ds Units. The only thing you do not know is IF you will be getting one. So if you do not want to take the risk in taking the "jackpot" for one, then I suggest buying one off of EBay. They normally go for $200 - $300 USD for one IPS Screen WITH the 3DS Dual IPS's will normally cost up to about $300 - $500 USD depending on which art style it is (Red, Blue, Purple 3DS Cover Art, stuff like that.) And othen times they are sold in auctions,

Check the Box (NOT RECOMMENDED) - To users who are shopping at a place like GameStop try asking someone if you can check the box, there should be a little hole like structure shown on the box.
If it's a small circle - It's not a 3DS IPS
If it's a huge circle - It's a 3DS IPS
This method I would not recommend since box models, and styles change all the time. If you are doing this method I would highly recommend doing it with a regular 3ds bundle for the New 3DS XL

Ask to check the console - If your at a store try asking someone at the store to check if you can check the 3DS for an IPS Screen. Normally with Pre - Owned Products people would allow you to do so depending on the store. Then check through the methods of seeing if you have a IPS Screen.

Look for an alternative box, or 3ds cover model - Rummors have said that based on the 3DS cover art, and box one can easily tell whether or not it may or may not be a IPS, however chances of "knowing" are unlikely. However if you're buying the newest released 3DS, or 3DS Bundled you have a pretty high chance.

Buy newer published ones - If a 3DS has recently been made, and put in a store IT WILL MOST LIKELY HAVE AN IPS SCREEN however due to Nintendo selling them both (TN & IP) it's almost impossible to know. Nintendo has rolled out more IPS Screens for the 3DS rather than TN this year (2016.) So the probability of getting one would be a 4/5 chance (4 times the chance to get an IPS Screen rather than a TN which is 5 times.)

Wow you have quite the conspiracy theory there. The box trick and serial number trick are both just theories that never panned out.

My own recent hunt at local stores with new stock turned up the usual mostly TN variant. The quality control on the screens is pretty horrid. Every single system I inspected had temp variants from piss yellow to deep blues.

For anyone on the hunt for ips screens I will suggest Craigslist and eBay listing where the screen type is not mentioned, which is the majority. Ignorance is your friend. Most people have no idea variations exist